From Independence Day to Labor Day and all the family reunions, neighborhood parties and last minute gatherings in between, you don’t have to look beyond your own backyard for the perfect entertainment venue.
Whether you’re hosting a casual pool party or an elegant dinner under the stars, we gathered the best tips, trick and recipes for your next outdoor gathering.
Outdoor décor
Turn your patio into a comfortable and beautiful extension of your home without spending a fortune. Save money with reclaimed and refinished furniture from garage sales or thrift stores.
Small accessories like lighting, candles, and potted plants will create a cozy yet polished vibe to your outdoor space. Look for durable outdoor rugs for additional color and texture. A few simple touches can make a big impact.
DIY your own outdoor curtains with inexpensive drop cloth, add a few string of lights, and you’ve created your own backyard bistro!
Get cooking
What’s an outdoor celebration without fantastic food? An outdoor grill can be a great alternative to your oven in the summer. Impress you guests with these simple and quick recipes:
On the side: For a twist on the classic corn-on-the-cob, try these grilled corn disks.
Main attraction: Grilled shrimp & pineapple skewers are perfect for a healthy and quick-cooking meal.
Sweet ending: For a sweet and simple summertime dessert, serve grilled nectarines, or any stone fruit you have on hand. Add ice cream, frozen yogurt or a drizzle of honey.
Grill master
Did you know there are over 8,000 grill related fires every year? Keep your home and family safe with grill and BBQ safety tips from Porch.com.
When entertaining outdoors, cleaning up may be the last thing you’re thinking about. Keeping your grill clean doesn’t have to become a painful task. All you need is about 15 minutes, a bucket with warm soapy water, a grill brush, foil, and rags or paper towels. This checklist from Real Simple will take you step by step to get your grill looking like new.
Kidding around
Looking for fun activities to keep kids entertained when the weather heats up? Check out this video from What’s Up Moms for fun outdoor ice activities.
What are your best tips for outdoor entertaining? Let us know in the comment below!
